Cape cart-hood for use on motor-vehicles



M. BUCH. CAPE CART HOOD FOR USE ONMOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION, FILED MAY 28. 1914'.

Patnted Aug. 10, 1920.

MTNESSES;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX BUCI-I, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO EDWARDS CORPORATION, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICH- IGAN.

CAPE CART-HOOD FOR USE ON MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

Application filed May 28, 1914. Serial No. 841,627.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX Boon, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Birmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cape Cart-Hoods for Use on Motor-Vehicles and the like, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to folding tops or hoods such as are used on motor vehicles and the like, and has amongits objectsto provide a simple form of hood or top which can be operated single handed, and, if necessary from the inside of the vehicle, and which 'will collapse neatly into a very small space, as for instance into a small box or channel provided at the back of the body.

Further objects are to provide a top or hood which may be folded back without discommoding the occupants of the vehicle; one in whichthe frame parts will not drop down low enough to strike the doors of the body should the same be left open and one in which the several bow arms (excepting that at the extreme rear) may be brought into proximity to each other and remain in such position without being manually held and without tendency to fall back into completely collapsed or folded position, allowing the operator to properly adjust or tuck in the folds of the top covering prior to completing the folding of the top.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention includes the novel construction defined by the appended claims, several embodiments of the invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which, the top or hood is shown in position in relation to an automobile body (conventionally shown) the cover material of the top being indicated in dotted lines.

In this drawing the figure is a side elevation of a top or hood constructed in accordance with my invention, the parts being shown in extended or unfolded position.

As this drawing is a side elevation it will be understood that the standards or bow arms, links or levers on one side only appear, but as the other sides are duplicates of these, description of one side will sufiice, and where reference is made to a standard, bow arm, link or lever it will be understood that this use of the singular is for convenience only and relates to and includes the construction on both sides of the top frame.

According to my invention I provide a main arm or standard A which, in a livebow top as used on large cars, may support one side of the intermediate bow, and which standard may be conveniently connected to the body by having a T-shaped lower end D pivotally connected to the vehicle body, as indicated at B Supported by this arm or standard A and projecting forwardly therefrom is a system ofvlinks or levers which support the outrigger bow K, and which comprises a pair of link members 0 and G pivotally connected to the outrigger bow K one in advance of the other and to the main arm or standard one above the other, the pivot connection of the lower link to the extremity of the outrigger bow being designated B, One of said links or levers has a portion extending or projecting with relation to its pivotal point of connection with the standard A, which projection or extenopposite extremity of the T-shaped head D,

this arrangement being such that when the top is fully raised or extended the T-shaped head of the standard and the rear bow arm C are in line with each other, as shown in full lines; whilewhen the top is folded, said T-shaped head draws the rear bow arm forward, thus preventing excessive overhang of this member as will be clear from the dotted lines.

If the length of the top is such as to require it the links or members 0 and G may carry a bow to support the top covering, which latter is indicated by the dotted line designated L and which is pivotally connected to the links 0 and G as shown.

By the bell crank extension and link connection to the supplemental bow arm E the folding of the parts forward of the standard A is made coincident with the swinging of the arm E and standard A toward each other. This prevents the dropping of the frame parts below the body line, thereby avoiding any danger of said parts striking the vehicle door, should it be left open and also prevents thebows from dropping down sufficiently far to inconvenience the occupants of the vehicle.

Neither do the bows rise into the air above the normal height of the top and thus the top may be folded back when in a garage or stable with a low roof. In other words with my improved top the bows move back in a horizontal line.

Furthermore, with my improved constructionthe standard A, supplemental bow E and outrigger bow K and the bow L carried by the links 0 and Gr may be moved toward each other until into close roximity without moving the rear bow or collapsing the rear portion of the top and will be self-supporting in this position, owing to the factthat the supplemental bow 'E and the standard A may be brought into proximity to each other before the standard A has swung back far enough to-cause the center of gravity to pass to the rear of the pivot B.

This enables the operator to conveniently tuck the covering material between the bows so as to enable "it to lie properly and neatly when'the top is completely folded back.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to'secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a vehicle top, a side arm or standard adapted for pivotal connection with the vehicle body, and a pivoted'rear bow arm, an outrigger bow arm, a link membertpivotally connected respectively to the extremity of the outrigger bow arm and said side arm, a second link member pivotally connected respectively with the outrigger bow arm in advance of the pivotal connection of said first named link, and to said side arm or standard, a rear auxiliary bow arm pivotally connected to said side arm, one of said link members having an extension, and

link member withthe outrigger bow arm.

3. In a vehicle top, the combination of a forwardly extending main bow arm, a rearwardly extending main bow arm, a rearwardly extending supplemental bow arm pivotally attached to said forwardly extending main bow arm soas' to lie between the same and said rearwardly extending main bow arm, an outrigger bow arm, a pair of links connecting said, outrigger bow arm with said forwardly extending main bow, one of said links being connected with the outrigger bow arm in advance of the-other and one being connected to said forwardly extending main bow arm above the, other, a front auxiliary bow arm pivotally connected to the'lowermost link and having a pivoted connection with the other link, one of said links having a rearwardly extended end, and a linkpivotally connecting such extended end with said rearwardly extending supplemental bow. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

-MAX BUCI-I.

l/Vitnesses r 'EWALD WALTER STANTON, ERNEST HARKER. 

